When Dylan Cook needs to escape from the pressures of sports, he turns to writing.

Over the years, Cook has spent his spare time writing poetry and also reading as much as possible. Both of them have proved to be viable outlets as a form of relaxation.

"I'm really not an electronic wiz," admitted the Northampton senior forward. "I don't spend a lot of time online and watching TV. Instead, I'm usually writing and reading. I have spent a lot of time doing both and I really enjoy both of them."

This season, Cook has been doing his share of writing. He has turned to writing poems to help him alleviate the pressure of enduring a winless football season and the beginnings of a winless basketball season. Over the past 25 games, the Kids have won just three times.

"It can be especially frustrating," said Cook of his basketball team's start. "If I am writing, I'm not thinking about it (basketball). I won't allow the frustration to get to me. If I do, it could drive me crazy.

"But I really don't think there is anything to worry about."

Cook has assured himself and his teammates that the Konkrete Kids' 0-3 start hasn't been one for major concerns.

They were within striking distance of Allen in their opening loss and then had a nine-point lead against Whitehall before they suffered the defeat. Their latest loss was a 56-36 loss to Nazareth, their lone true blemish in which they didn't play well overall.

"I think we played well at times during our first three games," said Cook. "In our first two games, we executed well and played hard. But against Nazareth, we just dropped the ball.

"But we have been definitely improving. We had the spring and summer to work together and we're light years ahead of where we were last season."

Head coach Coy Stampone is grateful for his senior's outlook.

"Dylan (Cook) is someone who brings leadership to the team," said Stampone. "He (Cook) realizes the state of the program and he does whatever he can to keep things positive. He has a good court sense and presence out there."

However, Cook hasn't been without his share of setbacks. He suffered a broken collarbone last spring and a torn meniscus during the football season. Cook still can feel some lingering effects from both injuries.

"I can still feel both of them at times," he said. "The collarbone injury was to my opposite shoulder so I could still do some form shooting. I know both of them will get better over time."

After high school, Cook plans to either attend Temple or West Chester to pursue a career in business.

For now, however, he plans to find ways to keep his club in the hunt. He is confident that can begin when his team played arch-rival Catasauqua Monday night.

"We didn't get to beat them (Catasauqua) on turkey day, but they haven't beaten us in basketball the past few years," said Cook. "I really feel we can pull it all together and go on a run. We need a win to get us started.

"There is a lot of parody in the (Lehigh Valley Conference). We just need to put four good quarters together."